What is a perfectionist: The cycle of harm

All of us are the same in that we have a hard time recognizing when our habitual behavioral patterns are getting in the way. Perfectionism is a good example of how something that can be a good quality can also be an Achilles heel. The standards a perfectionist sets for themselves often are impossible to meet. A Perfectionist judges themselves based on whether or not they can meet those impossible standards. They don’t have an inherent sense that they are fine the way they are but believe that they are only okay if they can meet their goals, and then even that isn’t usually enough!

Failure is not an event, but rather a judgment about an event. Failure is not something that happens to us or a label we attach to things. It is a way we think about outcomes.

- John Ortberg

A perfectionist is
someone who has high standards for themselves. In many ways this can be a
positive thing; however, this can also be a not so good thing.

Perfectionists
often seek help from therapists because they struggle with the
consequences of setting high and impossible standards for themselves.

Perfectionists become addicted to the idea of doing things perfectly.

Perfectionists experience negative consequences, that is, they suffer terribly because of the cycle they have set up, but they have a hard time letting go of the beliefs that drive their actions.

Perfectionism has been shown to be related to eating disorders, depression and other anxiety disorders. In adults the tendency of many who are perfectionist to have a heightened sensitivity to making mistakes or to criticism is correlated with other psychological problems.

What is a perfectionist. Are you one? A quiz.

Do you find all your time is always planned out,
you are organized, but you never feel like you have enough time?
·

Do you find that even when you are able to
accomplish something, the sense of satisfaction almost immediately disappears?
·

Do you find that you have trouble getting along
with others because of your perfectionist attitude?
·

Do you hold back from trying new things where
you might make mistakes?

Do you have trouble starting tasks because of
fear that you will fail?

The key to working with
your perfectionism, is to master the positive aspects (being goal focused,
driven, organized dependable and reliable) and work on the factors that
contribute to feeling badly (self criticism, sensitivity to making mistakes,
unrealistic expectations and self appraisals).

If you struggle with
perfectionism, ask yourself, just what is it costing you?